Sanef is disheartened by looming retrenchments at the Mail & Guardian
31 May 2025
The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) has noted alarming developments around impending job losses at the Mail & Guardian as the news fraternity continues to face mounting challenges, such as the decline in revenue generation.
Sanef has been alerted to the looming job losses and subsequently held a meeting with the owner of M&G, Hoosain Karjieker, yesterday (Friday, 30 May 2025), informing us that he had tried everything in his power to prevent any staff member from losing their jobs. All twenty-five staff members were given Section 189 notices, and it’s not clear at this stage how many would lose their jobs. This comes at a poignant time of the 40th anniversary of M&G when it first started as the Weekly Mail.
The job losses also come at an unfortunate time when most media houses, not only in South Africa but globally, face similar challenges due to the digital age and the old business model in tatters. In the meantime, the freelance market is flooded. But here, we have seen, according to Sanef’s recently commissioned research, freelancers struggle to get paid, and the rates are measly.
Since its formation, the M&G has established itself as one of the most prolific investigative newspapers. The weekly paper has produced some of the best in South Africa’s journalism, hence what it currently faces is not only ill-fated, but traumatic for the affected staff as well.
Sanef, though not a union, will continue to rally with journalists finding themselves in similar situations. It is in this light that we have established a Journalism Sustainability Fund, which we hope, once it has found its feet, can help media organisations alleviate such challenges.
The reality is that we now have fewer journalists on the ground, even though we need even more boots to continue telling the South African story, without any prejudice, fear, or favour, while holding the powerful accountable to their public.
Note to Editors:
The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism by fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, research, and education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.
For more information, please contact:
Makhudu Sefara – Chairperson (079) 177-2134
Tshamano Makhadi – Deputy Chairperson (082) 223-0621
Dr. Glenda Daniels – Secretary-General (083) 229-9708
Sbu Ngalwa – Treasurer-General (073) 404-1415
Sli Khanyile – Media Freedom Chair (083) 471-0367
Katy Katopodis – Wellness and Safety Chair (082) 805-7022
Judy Sandison – KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334
Rochelle De Kock – Eastern Cape Convenor (072) 969-8028
Sisanda Nkoala – Western Cape Convenor (073) 138 5564
Reggy Moalusi – Executive Director (071) 682-3695
Twitter: @SAEditorsForum
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sanef.org.za
